Thank you to everyone who's reading this right now for sticking with me this far. It's been rough with my lack of goddamn updates, I know, I suck. But thank you.

On with the show.

After changing into our uniforms, we all met in the training room.

"Alright, drop and give me twenty," Black Canary ordered. "I haven't been here for the the last couple days, so this is make-up for the last training sessions."

We all groaned, but stubbornly obeyed.

My wrist burned all through it. It had become swollen, and I guessed I hadn't noticed that morning, because it looked sprained.

Great.

When we were done, BC told us that we were focusing on strength training today. Better than sparring. It went by quickly, and pretty soon, I was about to leave, hoping Artemis had forgotten about the talk.

"Baywatch."

Crap.

I turned around, meeting her accusing eyes. She motioned for me to follow her, and I obeyed.

She led me outside, to the beach. It was slightly sprinkling, but she didn't mind, and neither did I. I slid off my beat-up converse, and walked barefoot, Artemis doing the same thing. She walked up to where the waves just touch your toes, and sat down in the sand. I sat next to her. The rain was warm, and it had somewhat of a comforting, relaxed feeling. I leaned back on my elbows, and she stretched out, laying her head in her hands. The ocean lapped at our toes.

"Tell me."

I looked at her. "Tell you what?"

She picked up a small shell, and played with it in her hands. "Tell me why you are acting like this." She tossed the shell into the water.

"Like what?"

"Dammit Baywatch, you know what!"

I sighed. I could already tell that this wasn't going to be easy. "Look, it's nothing."

She yanked her hairband out, letting her hair loose so she could recline comfortably. "You're a terrible liar."

"Why are you guys so freaking concerned?" I stressed. "I'm not dying, it's not like it's been months that I've been acting this way."

She sighed. "Look, I talked to M'gann. She told me the emotions that she felt from you. It's nearly unbearable for her. And yeah, it's only been a few days, but If you haven't noticed, the mountain seems dead without you annoying someone or your irritating laugh. Isn't it obvious?"

I didn't really know what to say to that. "Just- it's just a rough patch. I don't mean to make you guys worried and stuff. It's just been a rough few days."

She scoffed. "Well, we are."

I was silent.

Her eyes softened. "Look, we all go through rough patches throughout life. But this clearly isn't one of them. Now will you just tell me before I beat it out of you?" I almost laughed, but she said it so pleadingly that I didn't.

"Artemis. I'm okay. I'm not dying, I'm not getting hurt, I'll be fine," I blatantly lied. "I'm okay."

She frowned, her patience obviously growing thinner. "Fine. Just-" She hesitated for a moment. "Just tell me if anything is wrong. Please." With that, she picked up her shoes and walked back to the mountain.

I sat and looked out at the water a minute more, then looked at my watch. Dang. It was already three. I should get home. Picking up my shoes, I slid the hood of my hoodie over my head and slid my converse back on my feet. I took off at super speed, getting to my house in around fifteen minutes. While I ran, I prayed my dad didn't work the midnight shift, and that he wouldn't be home.

I was wrong, once again.

His parked car loomed in the driveway, taunting me from where I stood on the sidewalk in front of our house. Mom was still at work- she wouldn't be coming home until six or seven. I suddenly felt a lead weight sink down in my chest.

Slowly, I crept up the front walkway and silently pulled open the swinging front door.

No sign of him yet.

Suddenly, he stepped out from the shadow of the hallway.

Shit.

"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't come home earlier..."

"Where the hell have you been?" he growled.

I swallowed nervously. "Um, I had training. Sorry."

"Where's your mother?" He asked it almost deadly, and I had to admit, it scared me.

I bit my lip. "She's still at work, probably."

He suddenly pushed me against the wall. "You're lying," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"I'm not!" I said quickly, trying not to sound weak.

He slapped me hard, much like the other night. Was it last night? I couldn't remember...

"Why isn't my dinner ready?" he demanded.

"I- I don't know. Sorry." I stumbled over my words. I really didn't want to go through this again. I felt a small tinge of annoyance. Before I could stop myself, a hasty comment slipped out. "You can make it yourself if you want it that bad."

I saw the anger cloud over on his face. His voice was low and deadly. "What did you just say to me?"

Oh shit. "Dad, I am so sorry, I didn't mean it. I swear, I am so sorry."

"How dare you speak to me like that," he spat.

Knowing what was about to happen, I slowly started backing up. "No. I didn't mean it, Dad, please."

His fist collided hard with my nose, and I heard a crack as blood started gushing. I had desperately tried to dodge it, but I knew I would just make it worse. Dark spots danced in my vision, but I blinked them away, leaning against the wall for support.

"I can not believe you are my son. Can't even take a friggin punch like a man. A fucking pansy, that's what you are. You are a disgrace." He brought his fist down again, but I swerved and it collided with my shoulder.

"Dad, just listen. Please, I'm sorry, just-"

He sent another blow to my head, this one even harder than before. I crumpled to the floor, and curled into a ball on instinct. "Dad, stop!"

He kicked me hard in the middle of my spine, and I let out a small cry.

"What's wrong?" he sneered. "Did that hurt?"

He picked up something glass, and hurtled it toward me. It shattered into a million peices, and I bit my lip as large chunks pierced my arms.

"How about that? Did that hurt?"

I felt him deliver a few kicks to my torso, which probably bruised and/or cracked a few of my ribs.

But I guessed I deserved it.

He picked up something else, I don't know what, and threw at me, much like the glass item. It didn't shatter, instead colliding with my cheek, creating a sickening thump.

"Dad, please... stop..."

He let out a short, bitter laugh. "Not going to happen. You really think you can talk to me like that, and get fucking away with it?" I opened my mouth, but he didn't wait for a response, instead yanking me to my feet by my wrist. "You're not even going to fight back? Some hero you are," he growled as he smacked my head against the wall.

By then, I was barely conscious. I could feel something warm dripping down my face. "Dad, please... please, just stop."

He dragged me to the front door and swung it open, flinging me out of the house. I lurched forward and flew down the two concrete steps leading to the porch, landing on the damp sidewalk. My jaw smashed into the pavement, and I cried out once more in pain. I could taste blood, but I didn't know what it was from.

My dad stood in the doorway, ignoring my obvious pain. "Get up, you fucking coward. I don't need the neighbors seeing what a weak little bitch you are."

"I'm coming," I mumbled, "I'm coming dad. I'm sorry." I slowly eased myself into a sitting position, grimacing as I finally rose. My dad had turned away by then, retreating back into the house with a steady stream of curses. The door was still open. I took a few shaky steps forward, surprised I could still walk the minute distance I did.

If I could walk, I could run.

I quickly determined that there was no one around, and rocketed down the street, full speed.

Or- at least as fast as I could go in my state. Which was dismal, but I prayed it would get me at least to the zeta tubes.

I jolted to a stop at the zeta tubes, stepping inside and clinging to the grimy panes of glass in the zeta beam disguised as an old telephone booth. I was gasping in agony. My hand trembled as I punched in the code for the cave.

A few seconds of extreme pain later, I found myself clinging to the wall of the zeta tube in the cave.

Wait, what? What was I doing in the cave? My disoriented thoughts whirred in my head, and I felt like I was about to throw up. I knew it was likely that I was going to pass out in the next five minutes, and someone finding me slumped against the zeta tube entrance, bloody and bruised, would be bad. Really, fucking bad.

I glanced at my watch. Five thirty. Kaldur probably went to Atlantis, and Robin and Artemis had allegedly went home, so that left me with Conner and M'gann. I could only hope the two weren't around. I didn't think Conner would give me a hard time-I can practically feel the hate radiate off of him when he stands near me. I don't blame him though- I wouldn't want someone to hit on my girlfriend.

M'gann was a different story, though. I knew she was worried, and if she saw the shape I was in, she would freak out. Not that Conner wouldn't, though, it was just, M'gann would be heartbroken.

I was smacked back into reality by the throbbing of my back and ribs. I started to limp to my room at the cave, blurrily peering around to make sure no one saw me. My head was pounding like a jackhammer, and I could taste the familiar iron of blood in my mouth. I yanked the hood of my hoodie up, crossing into the kitchen and-

"Hey Wally!"

Shit.

M'gann was directly behind me. My back was to her, so she couldn't see the extent of my injuries, but I was frozen in fear. Oh God, it was over. It was all going to fall apart... Oh God...

I heard her take a few steps closer, and she lightly placed a hand on my shoulder. I tried not to flinch away from her touch, and blinked the stars out of my eyes. "I made some brownies, if you wanted to try some. They're double fudge," she offered quietly.

The pain was becoming unbearable. "Thanks Megs," I ground out, still facing away from her. "But maybe later. I'm not feeling so great right now and I'm heading to my room, but I appreciate it."

I could practically feel her face fall, and I felt awful. "Oh. Okay, well I hope you feel better. You are welcome to join Conner and I for dinner, if you want. Is there anything I can do to help?"

I shook my head slightly, wincing at the pain it brought me. "No, I'm good. Thanks though."

I slowly walked away, trying hard not to limp. Rounding the corner to the hallway that had all of the "personal rooms", I immediately dropped the façade started walking faster, trying to ignore the pain.

The hallway blurred as doorways to other rooms passed. The blood from my nose was slowly subsiding, but it was still agonizing, along with everything else.

I finally reached my room, opening the door. The bright, grass green paint on the walls greeted me as I stumbled in. Yanking the door shut, I somehow managed to walk to my bed and lay down, my body screaming in protest. Tears pricked my eyes as the pain worsened, and the metallic taste of blood increased.

He didn't mean it, I told myself over and over again. He didn't. He would never intentionally hurt me, he's having a rough few weeks, he didn't mean it. I deserved it, me and my big mouth, it was my fault.

My vision turned to somewhat of an old movie stance, where the film was ruined and the black spots erupted all across the screen. I tried to focus, but my attention slipped away as the spots totally covered the screen, and everything turned black.